Ore-separator



(No Model.)

G. H. BLAKE.

v ORE SEPARATOR. No. 332,696. Patented Dec; 22, 1885.

75667168868 Inventor M %.%.@4/&,\ %W Z GEORGE H. BLAKE, OF PORTLAND,MAINE.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,696, dated December22, 1885.

Application filed May 19, 1884. Serial No. 132,112. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- GEORGE H. BLAKE, residing in Portland. in thecounty of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented cer tain new anduseful Improvements in Ore- Sepa-rators; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention has relation to a novel and ingenious means forseparating gold, silver, lead, copper, and other heavy ores from silicaand other gangue minerals; and it consists of certain constructions andarrangements of mechanical parts whereby the heavy ore is separated fromthe gangue minerals by means of a current of atmospheric air, as will behereinafter pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a deviceembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the inlet- P 1Same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a suction-fan (which may be of anycommon and well-known design) having an outlet-pipe, H. Attached to thesuction-fan A on the side opposite the pipe H is seen a part, K, which Ihave denominated the inlet pipe or tube. At its outer end this pipe isprovided with air slits or openings 0. On its top near the outer end thepipe is provided with a hopper or funnel, B, through which ore is fedinto the interior of the inlet-pipe. The flow of ore from the hopper Binto the inlet-pipe K is adjusted and controlled by a regulatingslide,I. \Vithin the inlet-pipe and resting on its floor is seen a drawer, F.The drawer is placed directly under the hopper or funnel B, to catch andhold the falling particles of ore as they are fed through the funnelinto the inlet-pipe K. The floor of the inlet-pipe is broken into anyconvenient number of inclined planes D, running to pockets E.

The operation of the device is as follows: The suction-fan A is set atwork by power applied in any convenient manner. As soon as the fanstarts the air is sucked from the inlet-pipe K and expelled from theoutletpipe H. As fast as the air is exhausted from the inlet K its placeis supplied with atmospheric air, which enters the inlet through theair-slits 0. Thus, as the operation of the suction-fan A is continued, astrong current of air is produced through the inlet-pipe K, said currentof air being regulated by a damper, G. After the current of air is fullyestablished a quantity of pulverized ore and associated gangue mineralsis poured into the hopper or funnel B. The regulating-slide I isadjusted to permit free discharge of ore, &c., into the inletpipe. Asthe stream of falling particles passing from the hopper enters theinlet-pipe it is caught in the current of air, and the lighter particlesof silica and other gangue minerals are taken up and sucked along thepipe K, and finally discharged out of the tube H. The particles of orewhich are heavier than the gangue minerals are not carried along by thecurrent of air, but fall through it into the drawer F, from which theycan be removed at pleasure. As some of the falling ore particles maybesucked beyond the box or drawer F, I make the floor of the inlet-pipe Kwith a series of inclined planes, D. The ore falls upon the planes andslides down the same into the pockets E, from which the particles can beeasily removed by properly-arranged slides.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

An ore-separator comprising the pipe K, having on its under side theinclines D, pockets E, and drawer F, and at its outer end the hopper B,provided with regulating-slide I and the slots 0, and at its oppositeend with damper G and suction-fan A, all constructed and arranged asdescribed, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I haveaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. H. BLAKE.

W'itnesses:

GEO. M. SEIDERs, GEORGE LIBBY.

